Tent frame assembly

ABSTRACT

A tent frame assembly includes a leg unit, a plurality of link units, and a plurality of first and second struts. The leg unit includes a plurality of upright posts respectively having top connection elements, and a plurality of sleeve units. Each link unit includes an upper foldable link with two first link sections and a first pivot unit between the first link sections, and a lower foldable link with two second link sections and a second pivot unit between the second link sections. Each first strut has one end pivoted to a corresponding sleeve unit and the other end pivoted to one of the first link sections. Each second strut has one end pivoted to a corresponding top connection element and the other end pivoted to one of the second link sections.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a tent frame assembly, more particularly to afoldable tent frame assembly.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional tent frame assembly formounting a canopy thereon includes a plurality of post units 1, each ofwhich includes two spaced-apart upright legs 11, two sleeve units 12sleeved slidably and respectively on the upright legs 11, and twointerconnected cross-link units 13 between the upright legs 11. Each ofthe cross-link units 13 includes a first link rod 131 and a second linkrod 132 connected pivotally to and intersecting the first link rod 131.One end of the first link rod 131 is connected pivotally to a top end ofa respective one of the upright legs 11, while one end of the secondlink rod 132 is pivotally connected to a respective one of the sleeveunits 12. The other ends of the first and second link rods 131, 132 areconnected pivotally and respectively to each other. The top ends of theupright legs 11 are provided with a plurality of upwardly extending andfoldable rods (not shown) to serve as a top support for the canopy (notshown). Since the top support is not pertinent to the present invention,a detailed description of the same will be dispensed herewith for thesake of brevity.

When folding the conventional tent frame assembly, the upright legs 11are moved toward each other, with the sleeve units 12 slidingsimultaneously and downwardly along the lengths of the upright legs 11.The sleeve units 12 pivot the second link rods 132 downwardly relativeto the first link rods 131, thereby gradually gathering the variouscomponents of the tent frame assembly altogether. Since the first andsecond link rods 131, 132 are pivoted to and intersect each other, theconventional tent frame assembly can be folded, but cannot be kept in aclosely folded position because the link rods 131, 132 tend to stretchoutwardly due to residual outward forces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a foldabletent frame assembly that can be disposed in a fully folded state andthat has enhanced supporting strength.

According to this invention, a tent frame assembly for mounting a canopythereon comprises a leg unit, a plurality of link units, and a pluralityof first and second struts. The leg unit includes a plurality ofspaced-apart upright posts respectively having first top connectionelements, and a plurality of sleeve units sleeved slidably andrespectively on the upright posts below the first top connectionelements. Each of the link units includes two upper and lower foldablelinks disposed between an adjacent pair of the upright posts. The upperfoldable link includes two first link sections respectively pivoted tothe first top connection elements of the upright posts of the adjacentpair, and a first pivot unit connected between the first link sections.The lower foldable link includes two second link sections respectivelypivoted to the sleeve units of the upright posts of the adjacent pair,and a second pivot unit connected between the second link sections. Eachof the first struts has one end pivoted to a corresponding one of thesleeve units and the other end pivoted to one of the first linksections. Each of the second struts has one end pivoted to acorresponding one of the first top connection elements and the other endpivoted to one of the second link sections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional foldable tent frameassembly;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating the tent frameassembly in a folded state;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a tent frameassembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view to illustrate a leg unit and a link unit ofthe preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic view to illustrate a top support frameof the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, illustrating a top end portionof an upright post of a leg unit of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view, illustrating a sleeve unit ofthe preferred embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a partly sectional, schematic top view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view to illustrate a firstpivot unit of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view to illustrate atopmost connecting unit of the top support frame of the preferredembodiment;

FIG. 11 illustrates a folding operation of the tent frame assembly ofthe preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic view to illustrate the preferred embodiment in afolded state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the preferred embodiment of a tent frameassembly 2 according to the present invention is used for mounting acanopy (not shown) thereon, and is shown to comprise a leg unit 3, aplurality of link units 4, a plurality of first struts 432, a pluralityof second struts 431, and a top support frame 5.

The leg unit 3 includes a plurality of spaced-apart upright posts 31,and a plurality of sleeve units 32. Each of the upright posts 31 has atop end portion 311 provided with two first top connection elements 313and a second top connection element 313′, which is spaced apart fromeach of the first top connection elements 313 by an angle of 45°, asshown in FIG. 6, and a bottom end portion 312 opposite to the first endportion 311. The sleeve units 32 are sleeved slidably and respectivelyon the upright posts 31 below the first top connection elements 313.Each of the sleeve units 32 has a main body 321 sleeved on an outersurface of the respective upright post 31, and three second connectingpieces 322 which extend outwardly from the main body 321 and which form45° angles thereamong, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Each upright post 31and the main body 321 of the corresponding sleeve unit 32 are providedrespectively with through holes 314, 324 (see FIG. 8) to engage aprotruding stub 331 (see FIG. 8) of a C-shaped biasing member 33 (seeFIG. 8), which is disposed in the upright post 31 in a conventionalmanner, so as to position the sleeve units 32 on the upright posts 31.

Each of the link units 4 is disposed between an adjacent pair of theupright posts 31, and includes two upper and lower foldable links 41, 42connected pivotally and respectively to the upright posts 31. The upperfoldable link 41 includes two first link sections 411 arranged in astraight line and pivoted to the respective first top connectionelements 313, and a first pivot unit 412 connected between the firstlink sections 411. The lower foldable link 42 includes two second linksections 421 arranged in a straight line and pivoted to the respectivesleeve units 32 through the respective connecting pieces 322, and asecond pivot unit 422 connected between the second link sections 421.The first and second pivot units 412, 422 have similar configurations.As shown in FIG. 9, the first pivot unit 412 has a U-shaped firstchannel 4121 that opens upwardly, and two spaced-apart pins 4122 whichpass through the first channel 4121 to pivot respectively the first linksections 411. The second pivot unit 422 has a U-shaped second channel4221 (see FIG. 3) that opens downwardly, and two spaced-apart pins 4222(see FIG. 4) which pass through the second channel 4221 to pivotrespectively the second link sections 421.

Each of the first struts 432 has one end pivoted to a corresponding oneof the sleeve units 32 through the respective connecting piece 322, andthe other end pivoted to one of the first link sections 411.

Each of the second struts 431 has one end pivoted to a corresponding oneof the first top connection elements 313, and the other end pivoted toone of the second link sections 421. The first and second struts 432,431 cross each other, and cooperate to reinforce the link units 4.

The top support frame 5 is connected pivotally to the second topconnection elements 313′ of the upright posts 31, and is located on topof the link units 4 for supporting the canopy (not shown). The topsupport frame 5, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 10, includes a topmostconnecting unit 52, a plurality of first support rods 511, a pluralityof second support rods 513, and a plurality of third struts 512. Thefirst support rods 511 are pivoted respectively to the second topconnection elements 313′ of the upright posts 31. The second supportrods 513 are pivoted respectively to the ends of the first support rods511 that are distal from the upright posts 31, and extend toward eachother. Each of the third struts 512 has one end pivoted to acorresponding one of the sleeve units 32, and the other end pivoted to acorresponding one of the first support rods 511. The topmost connectingunit 52 has a cross-shaped cross section, and includes four angularlyspaced-apart pivot parts 521. The ends of the second support rods 513that are distal from the first support rods 511 are pivoted respectivelyto the pivot parts 521.

When the tent frame assembly 2 of the present invention is unfolded, asshown in FIG. 3, the canopy (not shown) can be mounted thereon.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 11 and 12, to fold the tent frame assembly 2, theupright posts 31 are simply moved toward the center so as to be disposedclose to each other. The sleeve units 32, at the same time, slidedownwardly along the lengths of the upright posts 31. The first pivotunits 412 are moved downwardly and the second pivot units 422 are movedupwardly at this time so that the first and second link sections 411,421 and the first and second struts 432, 431 can move closely relativeto each other. At the same time, the topmost connecting unit 52 of thetop support frame 5 is moved downwardly so that the first and secondsupport rods 511, 513 move closely toward each other.

Since the upper and lower foldable links 41, 42 do not intersect eachother, and since the first and second pivot units 412, 422 are used tointerconnect pivotally the first and second link sections 411, 421, thefirst and second link sections 411, 421 are substantially parallel toeach other when the tent frame assembly 2 is folded. As such, theresidual outward forces of the tent frame assembly 2 can be reduced whenthe assembly 2 is folded, thereby keeping stably the tent frame assembly2 in the folded state.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatis considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included withinthe spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompassall such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

1. A tent frame assembly for mounting a canopy thereon, comprising: aleg unit including a plurality of spaced-apart upright postsrespectively having first top connection elements, and a plurality ofsleeve units sleeved slidably and respectively on said upright postsbelow said first top connection elements; a plurality of link units,each of which includes two upper and lower foldable links disposedbetween an adjacent pair of said upright posts, said upper foldable linkincluding two first link sections respectively pivoted to said first topconnection elements of said upright posts of the adjacent pair, and afirst pivot unit connected between said first link sections, said lowerfoldable link including two second link sections respectively pivoted tosaid sleeve units of said upright posts of the adjacent pair, and asecond pivot unit connected between said second link sections; aplurality of first struts, each of which has one end pivoted to acorresponding one of said sleeve units and the other end pivoted to oneof said first link sections; and a plurality of second struts, each ofwhich has one end pivoted to a corresponding one of said first topconnection elements and the other end pivoted to one of said second linksections.
 2. The tent frame assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidfirst pivot unit has a U-shaped first channel, and two spaced apart pinswhich pass through said first channel to pivot respectively said firstlink sections, said second pivot unit having a U-shaped second channel,and two spaced apart pins which pass through said second channel topivot respectively said second link sections.
 3. The tent frame assemblyas claimed in claim 2, wherein said first channel opens upwardly, andsaid second channel opening downwardly.
 4. The tent frame assembly asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising a top support frame connectedpivotally to said leg unit.
 5. The tent frame assembly as claimed inclaim 4, wherein each of said upright posts further includes a secondtop connection element which is angularly spaced apart from one of saidfirst top connection elements, said top support frame including atopmost connecting unit, a plurality of first support rods pivotedrespectively to said second top connection elements of said uprightposts, a plurality of second support rods pivoted respectively to saidfirst support rods and extending toward each other and pivoted to saidtopmost connecting unit, and a plurality of third struts each having oneend pivoted to a corresponding one of said sleeve units and the otherend pivoted to a corresponding one of said first support rods.